Free English lesson content (and shameless self-promotion)!

Hey everyone,

Get my English speaking podcasts, transcripts and quizzes for FREE. I am offering access to the online English classroom and mobile app that I use in my italki classes. Message me now if you are interested.

I am offering some of my content for free so that you will see why my italki students are so satisfied! I am NOT offering free live video chats or classes. If you would like to take a live video class with me, check out my italki teacher page :)

WhatsApp Intermediate and Advanced Study Group!

Anyone interested in joining my WhatsApp study group?

Every week there is a new study topic and discussion assignment. I am designing the the content and assignments with the intermediate or advanced learner in mind, so if you are interested in joining, read the group guidelines and learning tips and follow the instructions at the bottom of this page to join!

Group guidelines and learning tips that I think are important to make sure everyone has a GREAT learning experiences and improve your English as much as possible:

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RELAX: Remember, everyone in the group is learning English and mistakes are good! The most important thing you can do to improve your English is communication without fear or reservations.

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RESPECT: Remember "the golden rule", treat the other members in the group how you would want to be treated :)

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PARTICIPATE:  Now that we all know we can relax and communicate without fear, make sure you are taking advantage of your time in the group by asking questions, making comments and completing the short weekly assignments.

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HELP: Thats right, just as I will be helping all of you, help each other! We all have different language strengths and opportunities, offer advice, corrections and support to other members whenever you can.

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If you would like to join, simply send “Study Group” to my Whatsapp number at 419-944-4290.

Phrases you should know for defusing microaggression

If you were confronted with a case of microaggression, how would you handle it? 

I just finished writing an article for one of my italki classes and here is a summary of it. I hope it is informative for all of you that are living abroad! If you would like a copy of the entire article, send me a message through italki or my Skype!

What is Microaggression? Microaggression advances stereotypes, insults members of a minority group, makes the dominant culture look normal and the minority group look abnormal, expresses discomfort with the minority group and assumes all minority group members are the same. Chances are, if you speak with "an accent" or are studying abroad, you have experienced Microaggression.

Here are some examples of microaggression:

<ol style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-family: "Libre Franklin", "Helvetica Neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit;">“I am sure you know lots of country music seeing how you came from the USA.”</li><li style="box-sizing: inherit;">“Wow, you did a great job on your speech! You don’t seem like you are from [insert your origin country]”</li><li style="box-sizing: inherit;">“You know what I like about you? You don’t act very [insert your ethnic identity].”</li><li style="box-sizing: inherit;">“I am glad we are working in the same department. I get along really well with [insert your ethnic identity].”</li><li style="box-sizing: inherit;">“So like… what are you?”</li></ol>

Here are some specific phrases that you can use to stop microaggression:

<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-family: "Libre Franklin", "Helvetica Neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Appeal to their pride by implying that they are too intelligent or culturally sensitive to say something like that: “That is surprising coming from you.” OR “That doesn’t sound like something you would say.”</li><li style="box-sizing: inherit;">
</li><li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Give them the benefit of the doubt by assuming that they didn't realize what they were saying: “I am sure you didn't realize how that sounded.” OR “You don’t mean that, do you?”
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</li><li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cause them to ponder their own statement when you paraphrase what they said or ask a clarifying question: “Do you really think that all people that look like me are the same?" OR “What do you mean?”
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</li><li style="box-sizing: inherit;">State an observation about the microaggressive statement: “That seems like a generalization and stereotype.”</li><li style="box-sizing: inherit;">
</li><li style="box-sizing: inherit;">These phrases are simple for the purpose of learning them more easily, but you can combine them together or add extra expressions to make them more specific for the situation.</li></ul>

Skype group for English study?

Hello everyone,

I would like to start group in Skype for some good old fashioned English study. All are welcome! Anyone interested?

~ Jonathan

"El proceso capitalista" En los dos ejemplos, estoy preguntando sobre el genero del objetivo, "capitalista". ¿Cual es mejor entre "el proceso capitalista" y "el proceso capitalisto"? En este caso, "capitalista" es el objetivo, y me parece que el genero debe ser masculino, no? ¿Que piensan?